Living with Disaster
How disasters have affected lives across Pacific island countries, 2005–2023
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1
person reported missing
114
people were reported missing in disasters between 2005 and 2024
1 dot ≈ 100 people
From this point on, each dot represents approximately 100 people
3,802
people lost their lives to disasters
2,588,223
people were directly affected by disasters
Across the Pacific
The impact was far from evenly distributed. Some island countries carried a much greater share of the human toll.
Fiji
recorded the largest number of people affected
1,240,734
people were affected by disasters
Papua New Guinea
recorded the highest number of deaths
1,415
people lost their lives
The pattern is changing
Compared with earlier years, the past decade has seen some of the largest disasters in terms of their human impact.
For Pacific island countries, climate change is adding to an already high exposure to disasters — intensifying climate-related hazards and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk.
For Pacific island countries, climate change is adding to an already high exposure to disasters — intensifying climate-related hazards and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk.
2016 · FIJI · Category 5
Tropical Cyclone Winston
44 people died.
540,000 people — 62% of Fiji’s population —
were affected.
More than 30,000 homes, hundreds of schools
and health facilities were damaged or destroyed.
FJ$1.99 billion in damage and losses.
2020 · VANUATU · Category 5
Tropical Cyclone Harold
The cyclone devastated the northern islands, destroying homes, crops
and critical infrastructure. On Espiritu Santo,
80–90% of homes were destroyed;
on Pentecost, the figure reached about 95%.
But Harold did not stop at Vanuatu. It also caused major impacts across Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga.
But Harold did not stop at Vanuatu. It also caused major impacts across Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga.